Sep. 19, 2012

Sparks detectives used a confidential informant for an undercover drug and gun-sale operation involving convicted felon Willie Calig Ledet in April 2011 and secured a state-court conviction last September on drug charges.

After the U.S. Attorney’s office in Reno told local agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives that they would not take their cases, one of the federal prosecutors dismissed a firearms case that had been generated by the Sparks Police Department.

Sparks detectives used a confidential informant for an undercover drug and gun-sale operation involving convicted felon Willie Calig Ledet in April 2011 and secured a state-court conviction last September on drug charges. But Assistant U.S. Attorney William Reed filed a motion to dismiss the ATF firearms case in October, telling the court that the deputy district attorney told him she had a problem with the informant.

But Washoe County Deputy District Attorney Kelly Ann Kossow said that was not the case.

“We used her as a witness at trial and it went well,” Kossow said. “We got a conviction.”

District Attorney Richard Gammick said Wednesday that he was not happy with Reed’s actions and planned to go after Ledet at the state level.

Ledet had several felony convictions for possession, use and trafficking of methamphetamine, according to court records. In April 2011, the Sparks detectives set up some sales to try to stop his drug and illegal firearms activities.

Sparks Police Detective Mike Keating said in a report that he “contacted an ATF agent and requested he and his agency’s assistance in a controlled gun purchase with Ledet.”

“I had previously arrested Ledet on a drug case and was familiar with him,” Keating said in his report. He also said the ATF agent “would be acting in the undercover capacity.”

The Sparks detectives first set up one transaction between Ledet and the informant to buy the drugs.

“Ledet was purposely not arrested as this is an ongoing investigation,” Keating said.

During that drug sale, the informant was told to ask Ledet if he had any guns for sale. Ledet said he had a .22 handgun available for $100. The detectives set up a new time and date and the ATF agent and the informant met Ledet for the sale.

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Before each of the two transactions, the informant was searched by law enforcement and was equipped with a wireless transmitter to allow detectives to monitor and record their conversations, Keating said. The informant “was kept in constant surveillance” throughout the transaction, he said.

The informant and ATF agent pulled up next to Ledet’s car and Ledet gave them a white bag. The two returned to the Sparks Police Department and the agent reported the gun was in the bag. The CD recording of the transaction and the wire notes were booked into evidence, Keating said.

Sparks police arrested Ledet on May 13, 2011. He was charged with three felony counts: sale of a controlled substance, possession of meth for sale and possession of meth. He also was told that the AFT had a felony warrant out for Ledet.

“The warrant with ATF was in reference to Ledet selling a firearm to (an) ATF agent,” Keating said in his report. “The sale was filed under this case and the AFT indicted Ledet federally for felon in possession of a firearm (charge).”

Ledet was bound over to Washoe District Court in June 2011 and in July a jury found him guilty on all three counts. Judge Steven Elliott sentenced him in Sept. 15, 2011 to up to six years in prison.

But on Oct. 12, 2011, Reed filed a motion to dismiss the federal indictment on the firearms charge.

“Based on information received from the Washoe County Deputy District Attorney who prosecuted the related state case, government counsel has concerns about the confidential informant,” Reed said in the motion.” The defendant was sentenced on the state conviction to a term of 28-72 months and is presently in the custody of the Nevada DOC. For the above-stated reasons, the government is seeking leave to dismiss the indictment without prejudice.”

Kossow said she recalled talking with Reed about the informant and said sometimes they are difficult to work with but remembers telling Reed that she was happy with the way it went and they secured a conviction.